[Methamphetamine-like substance detected only in stomach contents from autopsied cadavers]

In this paper we show that a methamphetamine-like substance was detected in the stomach contents of deceased patients who had never taken methamphetamine (MA). MA was assayed by using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Blood, urine and stomach content samples were collected from 65 patients not suspected of taking MA. In seven victims, MA-like substance was detected in the stomach contents. Concentration of MA-like substance ranged from 0.03 to 0.38 microgram/ml. Though MA and amphetamine, a metabolite of MA, were detected in forensic samples of patients who had used MA, amphetamine could not be identified in the stomach contents of these seven cases. There was no correlation between MA concentration and interval of time from death to autopsy. The mechanism of the production of MA-like substance is not clear. This phenomenon should be paid attention to in the course of forensic drug analysis because of the possibility of misjudgement.